HC Deb 29 March 1944 vol 398 cc1409-10
6. Sir Alfred Beit

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of times the European Advisory Commission has met since its inaugural meeting on 15th December, 1943.

Mr. Eden

There have been six formal meetings of the Commission since 15th December last, but, as I have previously stated, these meetings do not comprise the whole scope of the Commission's activities.

Sir A. Beit

Has the Commission yet made any recommendations and, if so, have they been accepted by any of the three Governments concerned?

Mr. Eden

The communiqué that was issued in Moscow made it quite plain that the problems that were being submitted to the Commission would not be made public.

Mr. Vernon Bartlett

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether the time has not now come for the establishment of a European Advisory Commission on a Ministerial level to prevent these instances of unhappy friction between the three great Powers?

Mr. Eden

I think the actual work being done by this Commission is being very well done, as far as I have been able to judge. As regards the wider question, I doubt whether any Commission, even if composed of archangels, would wholly succeed in the task the hon. Member would allot to it.

Mr. Kirkwood

Is it the case that the three great Powers are not co-operating with one another?

Mr. Eden

I submit that they are co-operating very well, with those occasional mishaps which occur between friend and friend at times.

12. Mr. Granville

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is within the scope of the European Advisory Council to discuss the terms of surrender or armistice conditions to apply to Axis countries arising out of the development of the war.

13. Mr. Granville

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is within the scope of the European Advisory Council to discuss the present position of Turkey.

Mr. Eden

As I informed the hon. Member on 21st March, the functions of the European Advisory Commission were defined in the communiqué issued at the close of the Moscow Conference. The proceedings of the Commission are secret and it would not be proper for me to discuss the subject matter of its deliberations.